Black Dog Photography Hosts SHS Photography Contest

The Black Dog Photography Studio and Gallery was filled with 44 incredible works of art last night. The photographs captured fleeting moments, studied portraits and stills that played with light and dark. The most intimidating part of the evening, though, wasn’t the works of art but the age of their creators. The 44 photographs weren’t the work of professional photographs with years of practice but those of students at .

“Going through all the submissions—seeing the amazing photographs,” Stonington High School student Nina Sheffield said was her favorite part of helping to organize the contest.

Sheffield began the contest as a project for her independent study in photography, but in the end the contest became a collaborative effort between the school and one local business.

Roy Thomas, of Black Dog Photography said he wanted to host a contest for several years as a way to show photography is a serious art form.

“I wanted to do something that no one else was doing,” Thomas said.

Thomas was one of the judges and awarded monetary prizes to the first, second and third in show photographs. The submissions were divided into categories with students' names removed while the two judges picked winners of categories such as travel and portrait as well as the first, second and third in show photographs.

Technology Education teacher Tim Chokas oversaw the contest and many of his students in Photojournalism I and II entered photographs. Chokas said the contest was open to all Stonington High School students and a bunch of students, submitted photographs who had not taken his class. This was the first year the school held the contest.

“I see it happening each year,” Chokas said.

While Chokas gave the project of organizing the contest to Nina his photojournalism and videography classes got involved promoting the event and making commercials for the contest.

“It came full-circle,” Chokas said.

Thomas, who estimated he spent $2,000 on the contest said he was expecting 20 submissions instead he got 44.

“I was blown away,” Thomas said.

Best In Show went to Nina Sheffield who received a $200 cash prize.

Second In Show went to Cailey Meagher  who received a $100 cash prize.

Third In Show went to Kristina Whittington who received a $50 cash prize.

You’ll be blown away be all of the photographs.